Electric fluid heating means



March 2 1943. F. D. SHRUM ELECTRIC FLUID HEATING MEANS Filed Aug. 28, 1941 I Iuvent'or Ban/2,2

A Home Patented Mar. 2, 1943 UNITED ELECTRIC FLUID HEATING MEANS Frank D. Shrum, Detroit, Mich., assignor of onehalf to Elmer T. Turner, Detroit, Mich.

Application August 28, 1941, Serial No. 408,671

1 Claim.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in electric fluid heating means particularly for tea kettles although it will be understood, of course, that the device may be used for any other purpose for which it may be found adapted and desirable.

The primary object of the invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a fluid heating means of the character described comprising an electric unit embodying a novel construction and arrangement whereby maximum speed and efficiency will be had.

Other objects of the invention are to provide an electric fluid heater of the aforementioned character which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of an embodiment of the invention with a portion thereof broken away in section, showing the device installed in a tea kettle.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the electric unit with a portion of the socket or receptacle broken away in section.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view in vertical section, taken substantially on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the end portions of the disk electrodes on which the receptacle is mounted.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view in horizontal section through the kettle, taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises an electric unit which is designated generally by reference numeral I. The unit I includes vertically spaced, opposed upper and lower disk electrodes 2 and 3, respectively, of suitable metal.

The electrodes 2 and 3 are secured together in spaced relation through the medium of a socket or receptacle 4. Toward this end, angular arms 5 project from the peripheries of the disk electrodes 2 and 3 and have one end portion embedded in the socket or receptacle 4.

A thumb screw 6 of suitable insulating material is threaded through the portion of the upper electrode 2 which is remote from the socket 4 and engages with the corresponding portion of the lower electrode 3 for preventing the electrodes from contacting should the device he dropped or jarred. Mounted beneath the lower electrode 3 is any suitable number of supporting feet I of suitable insulating material. Countersunk screws 8 secure the supporting elements I to the lower electrode 3.

The unit I is mounted in the lower portion of a tea kettle 9 and rests on the bottom I0 thereof. Extending through the wall of the tea kettle 9 is a double plug II of the prong type. The inner end portion of the double plug I is engageable in the receptacle or socket 4 of the unit I. A suitable electric cord (not shown) is to be attached to the outer end of the plug II.

It is thought that the manner in which the device functions will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, when the kettle 9 is filled with water to the level of the upper electrode 2, said water constitutes a conductor for the electric current between the electrodes. The water is heated by the passing of the current therethrough. The construction and arrangement is such that the unit I may be readily detached from the plug II.

The opening in the top of the kettle 9 is sufficiently large to permit the passage of the electric unit I when the cover I2 of said unit is removed.

It is believed that the many advantages of an electric fluid heater constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood and although a preferred embodiment of the device is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

A fluid heater of the character described comprising an electric unit for submersion in fluid to be heated, said unit including a pair of vertically spaced, opposed upper and lower disk electrodes, angular arms integral with the peripheries of said electrodes, an electric receptacle molded on said arms and constituting a coupling for the electrodes, a thumb screw threadedly mounted in the upper electrode and engaged with the lower electrode for spacing said electrodes from each other, said thumb screw being of insulating material, and an element of insulating material mounted beneath the lower electrode for supporting the unit in a vessel in spaced relation to the bottom thereof.

FRANK D. SHRUM. 

